Re: Pay-per-click placings

From: Jeff Staniforth <affirm_at_affirmware.com.au>
Date: Mon 13 Aug 2001 14:53:12 -0500

STEVE HARRISON <merlin_at_paypermaster.com> WROTE:

>Another "problem" (cruel hoax?) with being #1 in GoTo
>is that phenomenon known as "partnering." When GoTo
>first announced that their top 3 listings would now be
>appearing at the top of AOL Search, Netscape Search
>(top 2), Alta Vista, Hot Bot, Lycos, and scads of meta
>search engines, we noticed two almost immediate effects
>on our top 3 listings.

>The first thing we noticed was a grand surge of
>click-thrus. GREAT! Now we're getting all sorts of
>traffic via GoTo... but wait... they aren't buying.

>In short, and especially regarding GoTo, those top 3
>listings were now getting extraordinarily compounded
>exposure in all these giant portal and search sites.
>And therein lies the rub. The relatively "targeted"
>traffic we had come to know and love from GoTo had
>suddenly been considerably diluted by a much more
>"general audience" traffic. The traffic count spiked
>upward -- the CR dropped like a streamlined safe.


Nice enlightening take, thanks.

Should we not just settle for less than 3rd position
rankings. I know this is not as good as it used to be
but if enough marketers started doing it maybe goto
might see the error of their ways.

I mean this is going to cause them great damage. I pay
because I get quality surfers, I don't want the kind
of traffic altavista serves up (by comparison), so I
should stay away from top 3 positions.

Regards
Jeffrey Staniforth

How to be Rich, successful AND Happy
FREE "7 Part Affirmation Course"
http://www.affirmware.com.au



Received on Mon Aug 13 2001 - 14:53:12 CDT